For their opening LV= Cup fixture of the 2012-13 season, away at Ospreys on Friday evening, Gloucester Rugby are giving youth a chance with their team selection.

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The LV= Cup has developed into a competition which, given that matches take place during international periods, provides a great opportunity for up and coming players to show what they can do.

Accordingly, it's a youthful looking line up that will take the field at the Liberty Stadium on Friday evening, with the club relying heavily on its Academy, which has produced so many quality players in recent times.

For all that, there is a more than decent amount of first team experience named in the starting line up.

In the backs, the likes of Martyn Thomas, Shane Monahan, Tim Molenaar, Tim Taylor and Dan Robson are no strangers to first team action, while there is a welcome debut for centre Drew Locke.

Similarly, in the pack, the experience of Tommaso d'Apice, Dario Chistolini, Matt Cox and skipper Peter Buxton is backed up by a number of promising young forwards, including current England U20 squad members Elliott Stooke and Ross Moriarty.

Meanwhile, the relationships that Gloucester have built in recent times with players dual registered with the likes of Cinderford and Hartpury, pays dividends.

Second row Ed King and back row Ben Sparks, both from Cinderford, have both been registered to take their place amongst the replacements.

Discussing the game with the local media this week, Forwards Coach Carl Hogg stressed that Friday's game is a real opportunity for those selected:

"The LV= Cup has traditionally been an avenue for us to blood young players and that's exactly what we're doing on Friday night.

"It's a great opportunity for us to have a look at everybody. A lot of the guys have contributed in a big way to our success so far in the Aviva Premiership.

"They've been fully committed and now they have the chance to put their hands up and put themselves forward for selection.

"It's a difficult away match to start but this group is similar to the one that went to Mont de Marsan and performed well in difficult conditions.

"It'll be a similar challenge, the Ospreys are very physical but we've every faith in this group."